The Belarusian Zmey Gorynych - a 'tsmok' (dragon) - could become a symbol of the Lepel region. The mini-project to create a tourist brand for the district is applying for financial support from the EU program "Water, Nature, People in a Disappearing Landscape: Development of Sustainable Rural Tourism in Russia and Belarus," the project manager for the Lepel region, Olga Makhonenko, told a BELTA correspondent.

Orthodox youth from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Macedonia, and the USA will attend the festival, which will begin its work on July 31. The concept of the festival is based on the principle that creativity is a gift from God the Creator to man, a sign that he is created in the image and likeness of God, and the highest creativity – the creation of one's own life – is most fully open to young people, which is why the festival is dedicated to their creativity.

The Investigative Committee Department for the Vitebsk region has decided to initiate a criminal case regarding the road traffic accident on the Polotsk-Vitebsk highway, as reported to a BELTA correspondent by Inna Gorbacheva, the official representative of the Investigative Committee Department for the Vitebsk region.

Thus, according to the chairman of the Postavy District Executive Committee, Viktor Gutorov, the unemployment rate has decreased to 0.9 percent, while the established indicator was 1.1.

The institution of elected power has long traditions in Belarusian lands, laid down in the Principality of Polotsk. Despite the fact that power was centralized, the traditions of local self-government were zealously observed. Respected citizens had the right to vote.

Funds earned on the republican subbotnik (volunteer work day) of April 12 will be directed towards the construction of an early diagnosis center for malignant neoplasms at the Republican Scientific and Practical Center of Oncology and Medical Radiology.

A few hours later, at the same checkpoint, customs officers stopped another bus carrying bedding, bedspreads, and blankets without the necessary documents, with a total value of approximately Br50 million. The illegally transported goods had to be seized. An investigation is underway regarding both incidents.

According to police officers, and the drivers themselves, the need for this has been long overdue. It has been observed that even hardened "road" bullies and hooligans change for the better when caught on camera.

On April 12, 2014, a "direct line" with the Head of Administration of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Alexey Vladimirovich Matyushko, will take place.

The building of the children's art school in Shumilino will open after major repairs and modernization on September 1, the Shumilino District Executive Committee reported.

The construction of the House of Mercy in the agro-town of Bychiha, Gorodok district, is proceeding at a record pace. The decision to build it was made only this summer, and its completion is planned by New Year. General construction work is currently being completed, with finishing works remaining. A modular boiler house will be installed in the near future, and the house will be ready for occupancy.

A direct telephone line with the residents of the region will be held by the First Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Grebnev Gennady Ivanovich (call tel. (8-0212) 20-42-60 from 9:00 to 12:00), as well as the leadership of the city and district executive committees of the region and the administrations of the districts of Vitebsk city.

In Belarus, this year, regional executive committees and the Minsk City Executive Committee have organized weekly direct telephone hotlines to improve the effectiveness of work with citizens' and legal entities' appeals, eradicate instances of bureaucracy and red tape, and paper-pushing, as well as to promptly resolve problematic issues that arise for people.

In the village of Selyuty, the solemn opening of the oldest park in the Vitebsk region took place. The park was founded in the mid-19th century by Major General Pyotr Khrapovitsky.